Regenerator system



Feb. 9, 1932.

Filed Dec. 4, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Feb. 9,' 1932. c. P. BYRNES REGENERATOR SYSTEM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 4. 1930 Feb. 9, 1932. c P. BYRNES REGENERATOR- SYSTEM Filed Dec. 4, 193.0 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I l I INVENTOR Patented Feb. 9, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application Med December 4, mo. Serial No. 500,002.

I have invented a new and useful improvement in regenerator systems, of which the following is a full, clear and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, in which:

Fi re 1 is a sectional plan view showing one iorm of the invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical cross section through the regenerators;

igare 3 is a section on the line III-III of Figure l; and

Figure 4 is a vertical section showing a portion of re enerative checkers of a somewhat inodifie form.

This application is a continuation in part of my application Ser. No. 525,853, riled December 30, 1921, for regenerator systems. The form shown in Figures 1 to 3, inclusive is the preferred form of this application, although the broader claims are not limited thereto.

. The invention relates to regenerative furnaces, articularly open-hearth steel furnaces, a though it may he applied to any furnace having single-surface regenerators.

The object of the invention is to increase the eficiency of the regenerators by more efiicicnt heat transfer in the checker-work.

which is contacted with by the outgoing gases and the incomin fluid to be heated, such as air or gas or bot in the drawings, referring to the form of Figures 1, 2 and 3, a form of the invention is shown which is intended for regenerating both air and gas. These figures show only the regenerators and necks leading to the slag pockets with portions of the slag pockets, it being understood that the slag pockets are connected to the furnace in any well known manner.

These figures illustrate two sets of air and gas re enerative chambers, one set being adapte while the other set is receiving heat from the waste gases, these operations being reversed on each reversal of the furnace. of re enerative chambers will be referred to wit respect to their arran ement in these drawings, as the left and rig t regenerators.

to heat the incoming air and gas,

These sets The numeral 2 designates the gas regenerative chamber in each set while 3 and 3a are the air regenerative chambers in each set. Air is supplied by blower 4, driven by motor 5 and feeding air to an overlying air box or 55 manifold 6 having downwardly seating air control valves 7, one for each set of regenerators, controlling the air flow to the down air conduits 8, as shown in Figures 1 and 3. From these conduits, channels 9 lead to the g0 bottom of the first checker chamber 3 of each set of regencrators. From the upper part of the first chamber 3, the air passes down through a channel or channels 10 between the air checker chambers to the bottom part 11 as of chamber 3a,- and thence rises through the checkerwork therein to the upper ortion thereof and thence into the due 2st.- ihe gas fed throu h an overheadflue passes down through no 17, shown in Figure 1 to a m sliding gas valve 18, operated by cylinder 19, After passing the valve 18, the gas flows horizontally underneath sliding valve and through flue 21 into the gas regencrator 2. Passing through the regenerator, it enters the 75 neck 22 and thence passes to the slag pocket and furnace.

Similarly, the air after making two upward passes through the two checkerwork chambers of the air regenerator passes from the top of the second checker into neck 24, and thence through the slag pocket to the furnace.

1n the drawings, the left hand regeuerators are shown as connected to the incoming end of the furnace, the air valve 7 for these regenerators being raised, the gas valve 17 being open, and the outlet regulating valves 20, 20a I being closed. The inlet valve 25 for the waste gases from the neck to this left hand set of air regenerators is also closed. This valve 25 controls the passage ofoutgoing gases to the checker chambers 3 of the air regenerators.

In the form shown, the right hand set is connected to the out oing end of the furnace, the gases of combustion entering through the necks 22 and 24. The gases enterin the neck 24 pass partly through the air chec er chamber 3a and partly through the valve 25 and passageway 26 to the top of the checker chamher 3. The outlet gases coming through neck 22 enter the gas regenerator 2; and the outlet gases therefore flow in parallel through the three checker chambers 2, 3 and 3a. From these three chambers, the outlet gases pass to the valves 20 and 20a. The valves 20a are actuated by cylinder 27 and pistons 28, and these valves have adjustable connections, as does also valve 18. These adjustments may comprise pins 30, adapted to be inserted at will in any manner in a series of openings in the inner rods or stems of the valves. These pins extend through slots 32 in the connections, so that the extent of opening of the valves is easily controlled by changing the position of the pins 30, to vary the lost motion before the valves are operated. By these adjustments, the volume of outflowin gases passing in parallel through the chambers 2, 3 and 3a can be regulated so that the correct proportion or volume of gas shall pass through each chamber. The valve 20, therefore, controls the amount of waste gas which passes through the gas checker; while the valve 20a regulates the relative distribution of the waste as between the chambers 3 and 3a. In the rlght-hand portion of Figure 1, I have shown these valves 20 and 20a as open, but to different amounts, thus illustratin the regulation to give proper distribution 0% gas among the chambers.

As shown in Figure 3, a branch flue 33 extends over valves 20 and 20a and leads to the stack flue 34, which is preferably beneath I the floor level.

formed of a cast iron surrounding frame which iswater-cooled and contains an arched refractory cover or filling. The inlet valves 25 are preferably of the same nature, although they may-be water-cooled to a greater extent. The valve seats on which they slide in a horizontal direction are also preferably water-cooled and formed of hollow castings.

It will be noted that while the air valves are in their normal position between the regenerative checkerwork and the stack and while there is reversal of flow through all checker chambers on the change from heating incoming gases to heating the checker by outgoing waste gases, yet the entering air flows in series through a plurality of checker chambers, while the outgoing gases flow in parallel through the checker chambers on reversal. It will also be noted that in the preferred form shown, the air being heated rises through each checker chamber. This gives far more eflicient heat absorption from the heated checkerwork than where the air flowing in series passes down through one checker and thence up through another, al-

though my broader claims are not limited to this: m-nfmw-ad orm. It will also be noted that on reversing the regenerators, the flow of fluid through all checker chambers is reversed in the sense that the flow of gaseous fluid therethrough is changed in direction from that prior to reversal. It will also be noted that there is no air valve located between the regenerative chambers, as shown for example in the Slick patent, No. 1,247,020, granted November 20, 1917, wherein the waste gases pass .over a closed air valve and thence through additional checkers in the horizontal flue; and wherein the flow of heating gases in some of the checkers is in the same direction as that of the air passing throu h the checkers. It will also be noted that t 18112 is no need or requirement for passing waste gases in tandem'through checkers or checker chambers in the present case these waste gases flowing in parallel through all checkerwork in the preferred form.

Figure 4 shows a slightly modified form wherein there are three checker chambers 3]), 3rand 3d; 21) being the gas checker. In this case, the passage or passages 10b are repeated in 100 between the second and third air checker chambers in the air chamber series. The general arrangement here is the same as that in Figures 1, 2 and 3, except that the valve 25 controls the flow of outgo ing waste gases through both' the checker chambers 36 and 3c.

The advantages of my invention will be plain to those skilled in the art, since a better heating efliciency is obtained than in the prior practice. The heating gases are reversed, as compared to the gases to be heated, since they pass in a diflerent direction through the checkerwork. The air enters each checkerwork at a different point from the entry of waste gases thereinto, and the' course of the air to be heated difi'ers from that of the heating gases in each checker.

The outgoing gases are given ample space for their large volume due to their temperature, while at the same time these products are distributed more efliciently over the colder parts of the regenerator checkers. A higher velocity is preferable for the incoming air or mixture than for the outgoing gases.

The air may be forced or sucked through the checkerwork by means of fans or air pumps located either between the regenerative chambers and the furnace or beyond the regenerative chambers. It will be noted that during air heating at least one of the air checkers is closed off from direct communiv cation with the waste gas flue by valve 25, thus compelling the air to flow in series through successive checkers; while during the reverse period, such valve device is open and the waste gases have direct acce$ to both or all checkers, thus giving parallel flow.

The number of checkers may be varied, diflerent valve or control systems may be essee? used, and other changes may be made with out departing from my invention.

I claim 2 1. A single surface regenerator system having a plurality of air eating checkers, an

air inlet port to one of said checkers, a series air connection leading from the checker having the air inlet to another of said air heating checkers, both said checkers having hot waste gas inlets ar in parallel and spaced apart from their air inlets, reversing valve mechanism, and control mechanism for closing the hot waste gas inlet to the air checker having the air inlet during periods s of heating1 air in said checkers and or opening it in ta waste gas heatin periods thereof, whereby flow through sai checkers is reversed and the air flow through said checkers is in series while the waste gas flow through a said checkers is in parallel.

2. A single surface re enerator system having a plurality of air eating checkers, an air inlet port to one of said checkers, a series air connection leading from the checker having the air inlet to another of said air heating checkers, both said checkers having di-. rect inlets in parallel for hot waste from a furnace se arate from their air inlets, reversing v ve mechanism, control mechanism for closing the hot waste gas inlet to the air checker having the air inlet during periods of heating air in said oh and for opening it in the waste gas heatin periods thereof, whereby flow throughosai checkers is reversed and the air flow ugh said checkers is in series while the waste gas flow through said checkers is in parallel, and means for proportioning the relative parallel flow of waste gases throu h the several checkers during eating up ereof.

3. A. single surface regenerator system having a plurality of air heatin checkers, an air in ct port to one of sa'd chec ers enterin its lower ortion a series air connection lea ing from t e checker having the air inlet to the lower portion of another of said air heating checkers, both said checkers havin I direct inlets in parallel for hot waste m a fun nace separate from their air inlets, reversing valve mechanism, and control mechanism for waste closing the hot checker havi the air inlet du periods of heati air in said checkers and or opening it in t e waste gas heatin periods there of, whereby flow through sai checkers is reve and the air flow through said checkers is in series while the waste gas flow through said checkers is in parallel.

4. In the operating of single generators, the steps consisting of passing a waste as es from a furnace outwardly in paraile through a pairof re nerators and then reversingthe flow therein, closin off one of the pair from the waste and eeding air to be heated inwardly through the surface reinlet to the air regenerator which is closed off and thence in series through the other regenerator;

5. In the operating of slngle surface re generators, the steps consisting of passing waste ee from a furnace outwardly in paralle then reversing the flow therein, closing ofi one of the pair from the waste gases and feeding air to be heated inwardly and upwardly through the regenerator which is closed and t ence in series through the other regenerator.

through a pair of regenerators and 6. In the operating of singlesurface regenerators, the steps consisting of passing waste ases from a furnace outwardly in paralle through a pair of regenerators and then reversing the flow therein, closing oif one of the pair from the waste gases and feeding air to be heated inwardly and up wardly through the regenerator which 15 closed off and thenceupwardly in series through the other regenerator.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set m hand.

y CLARENCE P. BYBNES. 

